Syrian government launches offensive south of Aleppo

BEIRUT (AP) — Pro-government forces in Syria launched an offensive Tuesday to retake a strategic hilltop village south of Aleppo from insurgents, including al-Qaida's local affiliate.

Al-Manar TV, run by Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which is fighting alongside Syrian government forces, reported the offensive to retake Tel al-Ais.

In northern Syria, Turkish artillery shelled Islamic State targets in the Syrian town of Azaz from across the border after rockets fired from Syria struck a Turkish border town, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.